The Promise of Spring

Sometimes like Mr. Tumnus in "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe", we feel as if it will be "always Winter; never Spring".  But let the Holy Spirit bring refreshment and encouragement to your heart this day.  For I don't know the circumstances you're going through, but He does.  And He loves you so much that He wants you to know that He's never left you, that He has you in the palm of His hand and you are under the shadow of His wing.  He is here to speak tenderly to you in your winter season.  And as a child of God, an heir of His salvation, He takes the time to send you an "Heir mail" message during your time of tribulation and trials. 

I found myself pondering the upcoming Winter season here in Michigan and how Winter has always been a very dark place for me emotionally.  In short, it's not my favorite season of the year.  Difficult driving, cold and gloomy days just don't create a happy place in my heart.

Yet, as I continued to ponder, a thought occurred that with Winter comes the promise of Spring; to look beyond Winter this year and focus on our upcoming Springtime.  I just love Spring!  As soon as the crocuses start popping their multi-colored heads through the snow and the mourning dove begins to coo, I know that Spring is almost ready to display her fresh, new, lush displays of colors from every color spectrum as flowers bloom, grasses green and trees bud.

One of my favorite verses is found in Song of Solomon, Chap. 2:10-13 "My beloved spoke, and said to me: 'Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.  For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land." 

And then we turn back to Ps. 23:1-2 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul...."

The writer of Ecclesiastes puts it this way in Chap. 3:1, "To everything there is a season, a time for every matter or purpose under heaven;...."

After years and years of one trial after another, and much weariness, we are in a new season of our lives.  My oldest son is about to be married in March...in the Spring.  We are overjoyed for them!  My youngest son is attending culinary school and seems to have never been happier.  After years of physical ailments and surgeries one after the other, I am finally pain free and off all narcotics!  The Lord seems to be ushering in a new season of life for our family, and I've been searching His heart in deeper measure.

I can't tell you that I prayed everyday during these many trials.  For four years I turned my back on the Lord, but by His grace and mercy, He restored me to Himself, and since that time, have continued to look to Him for His grace during my life.  I would pray, but my prayers seemed very weak and pitiful.  I thank God for the people in my life who prayed faithfully for me and my family over the past two decades during the dry, desert times...which were many and seemed unending.

But what I also learned through these times is how the Lord remembers that He made us out of dust. Jesus lived in an earthly body, so He knows how it feels to "go through life" on this earth.  He experienced much more than we ever have...unto the shedding of His blood...which we have not had to suffer.  But in understanding our human frailties, He now sits at the right hand of God, The Father, ever making intercession for the saints.  This means that no matter your circumstances, Jesus is praying for you before God, The Father.  I've also learned that "Jesus, Help!" is a prayer.  And I learned that when I was too weary, the Lord in His goodness, mercy and compassion, gave me scriptures to encourage my heart along the way.

But now, there is a shift.  Not just a change in events, but I sense a newness and a shift in my heart; that the Lord is doing a "new thing" in our lives.  Is. 43:18-19 states, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing.  Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."     

So as I reflected on our many, many years of trial, I thought of others who are experiencing tribulations and how sometimes, hope of emerging at all, let alone intact, seems less than a fading glimmer.  But He's here to encourage your heart.

I posted the following on Facebook yesterday:
"Sensing someone needs encouragement this day....For those of you whom God is taking you through a season of trials (months - years...getting through one trial only to surface as the next tidal wave hits), the Valley of Achor, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, "always Winter; never Spring", where there seems as if there will be no end....know that there will be a day coming of rich fulfillment. Our task is to stay obedient and...faithful to the Lord and not turn away as the devil would have us to do.

We have a choice in the Valley....we can choose to turn our back on God, or we can look to Him as one who sticks closer than a brother. For there WILL BE a day when He brings you OUT OF THE FIRE to rich fulfillment as is His promise in Ps. 66:10-13 (Amp.) "For You, O God, have proved us; You have tried us as silver is tried, refined, and purified. You brought us into the net (the prison fortress, the dungeon); You laid a heavy burden upon our loins. You caused men to ride over our heads [when we were prostrate]; we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out into a broad, moist place [to abundance and refreshment and the open air]." The NKJV describes this as a "place of fulfillment".

Rejoice and be glad for He has not forgotten you. You are in the palm of His hand, and as He takes you through His plan, no weapon formed against you shall prosper!"

Praise God and Praise God!  He alone is taking you through His plan for your life for His Kingdom Glory.  And while He takes you through, nothing, absolutely nothing separates you from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 

Isaiah 60:20 gives us hope in the midst of winter: "Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light and the days of your mourning shall be ended."

Rejoice and be glad dear child of the living God for He SHALL bring you into rich fulfillment and He gives you the promise of Spring in Jesus' Name.  Hallelujah!  Praise God!

Ever yours in Christ,
Crista
CMSimmons52@aol.com

~In Quietness and Confidence~

Actually, this is a photo from a postcard that my friend in Germany sent me...It's a birthday card!
But as I was writing today, isn't this what we feel like we've been handed in life at times...Something that was supposed to be all good and wonderful, and instead, we get a mouthful of gravel...or a surprise plate of glop straight from the pit of hell itself. As we can tell, this poor little woman isn't too happy about her "Happy Birthday" cake....Life went terribly wrong!

And that's what happens to us. There are just those times in life that we're just plain knocked sideways into the next dimension or slam dunked in our now; whether it be a circumstance in which we find ourselves (an accident, death of a loved one, job situation)....or in dealing with people (misunderstandings or an all out frontal assault by the enemy of our soul). It happened then....It happens now....It will happen again....for we know that when the enemy came against Jesus, he left Him (Matt. 4:11), but then we know that the enemy returned at later times - especially when he thought he'd won by crucifying the Lord.

We know from Job 1:6 that Satan came before the Lord to present himself among the sons of God. And we read that the Lord asked Satan, v. 7 "From where do you come?" Then reading further in v. 8 the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

It is from then on that Satan takes Job's property and his children, but we also know that God told him (Satan) that he could not take Job's life. (v. 12)

Trouble....It's a reality of living on this earth. It is a reality of our lives as Christians. One such event for me personally, was the receipt of an item that was totally unexpected. A slew of accusations fired hailstones into my heart...WHAM!...And momentarily I found myself spinning sideways...feeling off balance...threatened....Where to go from here?

These are the times we've all experienced...but what do we do with them?

The Lord gives us His Word for these times of trouble which pursue us, but do not overtake us.

Let me share with you what He's shown me so often, that your heart will be encouraged as well. He knows that we need His tender reminders. He knows our situation....He understands....He sees it all....and He will take care of it. And all we need to do is our part...to nestle under the shadow of His wing. (Ps. 91:1)

Be Comforted Beloved with His Word:

Isaiah 30:15 "For thus said the Lord God...In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.."

Psalm 46:10-11 "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause and calmly think of that].

Psalm 58:11 "Men will say, Surely there is a reward for the [uncompromisingly] righteous; surely there is a God Who judges on the earth."

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my Light and my Salvation - whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?"

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration, but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted!] For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Romans 8:37 "Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us."

In closing, precious ones....if you've been going through a trial....rest in Him right now....He has you covered....He will take care of your situation. Rest...Abide...Snuggle in....Be at peace....

God wastes none of our experiences in life or our trials~ And as Job, may we be able to say that our spiritual eye sees Him through this even more than we did before. (Job 42:5 "I had heard of You [only] by the hering of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You.") The Apostle Paul wrote it this way in Ephesians 1:17 "[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him."

Love always - in Him Who gave His life as a ransom for our salvation and our peace~

Crista
http://dinnerwiththeking.blogspot.com/

I Will Not in Any Degree...Leave You!

~I received this email today containing the following....I pray the Lord encourages your heart...
Don't know about you, but I sure needed His reminder today.
Blessings and love always,
Crista

Copy of Weekly Article, DALLAS NEW ERA
PRAISE GOD FOR HIS HOLY WORD

Charles Sims, Pastor
Away from home on a mission trip, very homesick--I'll never forget it. Then a card arrived from Charles, containing a Scripture notation (Heb. 13:5, Amplified Bible), reminding me again of the timeliness, comfort and power of God's Word.
"...for God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake you! Assuredly not!"
I kept reading (v.6): "So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper: I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?"
Wonderful words of life, blessed assurance.--Betty Sims.

Call and I WILL Answer

~Friends, this has been a physically challenging 18 mos., to say the least. Last week, I received news of another assault against my body, which is causing much pain and another specialist to consult.
~Dear Child of God, when the storms of life surround us, we look up for Our Redeemer draws nigh! HE IS THE GLORY AND LIFTER OF OUR HEAD!
~It is very tempting when the tempests hit to throw in the proverbial towel. Those times when we barely catch our breath and here comes another wave to knock us off our raft in the ocean of life....coughing, choking, sputtering and spitting, we no sooner crawl back on, and WHAM!...another wave comes and throws us clean off!
~Think of the raft as Jesus, Our Rock. He is Our Anchor! He holds firm when the situations of life buffet us, and He holds us to Himself.
~Have you ever had those times when you think of the poster which reads, "When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on"? I have...and I've also said, "Lord, I pray You ARE there, because I don't have any strength left to tie a knot, much less hold on. So I'm letting go, and I'm free falling...and I'm trusting Your arms to be there for me.
~Last night I received these words from a precious Sister...."I had a feeling that your feelings were in regard to your back. I’m so sorry that you’ve received such disheartening news. I’m starting to pray already that the creative miracle you need happens and SOON! If God chooses to allow you to go down this path, I know it will be to serve His purposes in a calling higher than we’re aware of right now. I’m also praying for your patience as you find out which path will be yours."
~HIS PATH...HIS PURPOSE....ARE MY DEEPEST DESIRES.
~For the past week, I've been praying for the Lord to reveal what He's trying to tell me from all these 3's that keep popping up....Time: 3:33, Temp: 33 degrees, Cost: $3.33 ~Can I tell you what a joy it was to my heart this morning to hear the Lord whisper, "Jeremiah 33:3"...AND THERE IT WAS!!!! HIS ANSWER!!!!!~
Jeremiah 33:3 (Amplified) "Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).
Now, I don't know about you, but THAT'S A PROMISE!!!!! ~Call to Him, and HE WILL ANSWER!! It will probably involve waiting, asking, seeking, knocking, quieting, listening....BUT HE WILL ANSWER!!! That is His Promise, and He is not a man that He should lie....for His promises are Yea and Amen!

Nothing Can Separate You from My Love

Soliloquy: "1) A dramatic discourse in which a character reveals his or her thoughts when alone and unaware of the presence of other characters. 2) The act of speaking to oneself." (The American Heritage Dictionary)

~And so I ask, is this not really true prayer? Is this not where the rubber meets the proverbial road? When we're all alone with our thoughts and the rawness of life. When circumstances have torn every bit of shred of "want to" out of us....When we are at those points in life when we're not even sure if God is listening...and we spill our guts....just pure, raw pain....and then, God reveals to us that He'd been listening all the time....for He gently enters our situation, our heart to let us know He's there....even when the circumstance does not change, He changes our hearts by reassuring us that He has not left us nor forsaken us.
~Without being maudlin, it is just reality that there are those times in our lives which leave us feeling totally alone, useless, raw, bleeding from whatever circumstance has intruded upon our life....often leaving us feeling empty handed....and in the process, at times, even wondering if God is truly there. We see Him there for others and wonder if we've been abandoned....Does He still love me?
~The child inside of us crying out for Our Daddy....I don't know about you, but there are times when my heart has sobbed before the Lord, "Father, I know in my head that You are here with me, because Your Word tells me, but I sure do need someone with skin on right now. I sure would appreciate sensing Your Presence with me through all of this. I am asking You, God, for Your encouragement and reassurance through all of this mess, because I simply don't see the light at the end of the tunnel...and the one I do see right now, is the train coming at me."
~Last week I received some news that knocked my feet out from underneath me. I'm weary from warring, and emotionally fell flat on my back...slamming the breath out of me.
~My dear friend and Sister from far away called me the other night. The death of her mother has left her so shell-shocked that putting one foot in front of the other seems to be a monumental task right now. We shared our guts and our tears with each other. We prayed for one another. We loved one another.
~I knew that I'd ministered to my friend in the midst of my own doubts and lack of vision right now.
~And then God.....I received an email from another dear friend who lives on the west coast. She'd not heard from me....Was I OK?....I emailed back in the late afternoon. About an hour later she called, because she felt such concern. She related that she'd had a dream about me the very night when I'd received my "news", and had been pouring out my own soliloquy before the Lord....Her dream was so appropriate for everything going on in my life right now.
~And then, God gave her a prayer....I sobbed through the entire prayer....God had not left me nor forsaken me....In my own darkness of soul, He had heard my soliloquy, and answered by not only giving Joan a dream, but having her call and pray.
~Dear and precious child of the Most High God....His promises are yea and amen. Are my circumstances changed? No. Is my heart changed by His reassurance? Yes. Can I look the future square in the face and go through whatever it is that He's taking me through? Yes...because He's with me all the way. (See "Into His Image")
~For another very descriptive soliloquy, please refer to 1 Samuel 1:1-18, where Hannah just lets herself all hang out before God and Eli, the priest. God heard and answered her "soliloquious" prayer by giving her a son: Samuel.

Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Isaiah 49:15-16 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before me."

John 14:16, 18 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever - ..." "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

Under His Wings

~Have you ever wondered about being "under His wings"? I have....I wonder about a lot of things, and one of them is what it would have been like to have had an earthly father who was really there for me....loving and attentive...one who would call me on the phone, just to ask how his girl was doing. I watch fathers with their daughters...and wonder, "What would it have been like?"
~My birth father didn't acknowledge that I was his. My adoptive father did what he knew to do...but just didn't make it over the hurdles of his own past pains....I believe he did the best he knew how....but it left a "daddy void" in my heart.
~So when I come across scripture which tells me that "though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take care of me" (Ps. 27:10)...well, that hits home. I hang onto Him and His Promise that He is, INDEED, my Daddy.
~And in my wondering and pondering, the Lord answered some of my questions about His being my Abba, Papa, Daddy, Da-Da, to me...for there came a day when He interrupted my thoughts and asked.....
"My Dear Daughter, Would you like to know what it is like to be under My wings? What do you see when you watch March of the Emperor Penquins? Watch the daddy penguin with his baby; for that is what I do with you."
~I watched in fascination how the daddy penguin took the egg and held it fast between his feet - under his belly - "UNDER HIS WINGS"....When he moved, the egg moved with him. After the baby penguin emerged from his shell, the daddy continued to hold his precious treasure between his feet...still under his belly...under his wing. Again, when he turned, the baby turned. Daddy penguin held his little one tight to his body for safekeeping from the extreme cold and predators.
~I began to get a deeper revelation of His love and His protection....
Psalm 91:1 (Amplified) "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]." v. 4 "He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler."
Thank-You, Daddy...Please continue to help me to grasp the awesomeness of Your love! (Ephesians 3:17-19) ~You are the Only One Who knows me completely and where the broken places are. Daddy, I give You my heart. You are My Healer....You are My Daddy.

I AM Close to the Broken Hearted

~Tonight, I'm weary and depressed and discouraged....chronic, searing physical pain has been a constant companion for the last 2 mos., and has tagged along as an uninvited, unwelcome, unpaying tenant for almost the past 18 mos. in one form or another. I don't understand it, but do know the Lord has given me visions, scripture and encouragement in the process.
~He showed me a golden tip of a spear, and said, "I AM refining you. Sharpening you; not because you did anything wrong, but because a tool which gets used becomes dull with use and needs to be resharpened." In my heart, I was fairly screaming, "BUT GOD, I HURT SO BADLY!" He is no stranger to pain. He knows. He experienced the reality of human, physical suffering....And then, I bowed my heart and reaffirmed my conviction that I have offered my body to Him as a living sacrifice for His glory - for the Body of Christ - no matter what.
~Then, He gave me a vision of seeing myself walk through a wall of fire....a refiner's fire.
~During group prayer, His Presence was so tangible that we all felt almost helpless to stand. It was as if He put me in His intensive care room to saturate me with His Presence.
~And tonight He has reminded me of a time when overwhelming emotional pain blocked my view of Him....
~My Dear and Precious Daughter....Do you remember when you got hit in the face with the softball and bled profusely? You did not realize who was standing next to you and around you, but you did know that others were with you. That is what happens in pain....The world as you know it becomes a shadow; a blur as the body seeks to protect itself. The body perceives pain and automatically does what it needs to do to protect itself. That is how I have designed you. The brain registers pain as pain...whether it be emotional, spiritual in nature or physical.
~If you had been in a severe accident requiring hospital care, you would be in ICU. You would not care for yourself, but others would care for you as directed by the physician. And whether you are aware of their presence or not, they are still caring for you.
~That is how it is at times with Me. I AM Your Great Physician. Not only am I standing with you, but I send others into your life along the way to minister to you. But sometimes through your pain, you do not see Me or realize that I am there with you. Knowing I AM there when you do not see Me is walking by faith.
~Take comfort, My Love, in knowing that no matter what, I AM by your side and I have a purpose through it all. Trust Me in this. For nothing, absolutely nothing, shall separate you from My love.
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him....Though He slay me, yet will I praise Him.
Father, no matter what, I will praise You with my whole heart!

"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart...." Ps. 34:18

""Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing is happening to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:12-13.

The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever

~Today is of a slightly different track. What defines "normal" for you? My dear friend is flying back south tomorrow after being "home" for the past couple weeks upon the death of her mother.
~Today, in writing to her, I pondered the age old question, "What is normal?"....It's oftentimes defined by our routines, isn't it? One of my favorite books is entitled, "Normal Is Just a Setting on Your Dryer", by Patsy Clairmont. That just about sums up life, doesn't it!?!
"Normal" for some can mean moving every couple years; normal for others is defined by a life spent on the bleachers until the last one graduates; normal for others is diapers and tears and potty training and spilled milk, etc....not to mention the physical, emotional struggles that some contend with on a daily basis.
~In 2006, our "norm" had been burying our dead. In 2008, it was spent inbetween doctor visits, surgeries, physical therapy, work and home.
~The death of a loved one, the death of a dream, the death of a relationship, job, whatever it may be...however permanently shifts the sands of "normal" along our path of life. I remember thinking after my mother died, "I need to call mom. I haven't talked to her in a couple weeks."....Then, my "new" normal began to slam my heart to the floor...right there at the kitchen sink with a sinkful of dirty dishes....unannounced and uninvited....as the door of reality opened by itself and let itself in.

It is only as our "normal shifts" that I believe we truly learn to rejoice in the fact that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever", and that He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. His promise is that when we call, He WILL answer, and that His plans for us are for good and not for evil.

No matter what our "normal" is right now....may we know that He is the same - He changes not.

Underneath Are The Everlasting Arms

~A very dear friend of mine came home this past week to bury her 90 year old mother. It brought back memories of my own mother's death and the 10 months of constant grief for my husband and I which occurred between Palm Sunday 2006 to February 2007. We buried four members of my husband's family and two very dear friends from the nursing home ministry; only three of which were anticipated...The other three were suddenlies. We got to a point where didn't even want to answer the phone. ....Steve's oldest brother, Kent, his father (who was like a father to me)...our friend, Myrna Jean. In August, after Myrna's death, sobbing, I asked God that not one more loved one die. Two weeks later, we buried Steve's close cousin, Judy. Two and a half months later, his brother, Johnny. Four months later, Myrna's husband, Jim.
~In the middle of all of this, a precious friend of Steve's father, and our "adopted mom", sent us the following scripture and quotes. Ida is now in the last days of cancer. She's going Home soon, too. Grief has come knocking once again.

~God, once again, hold us in Your Everlasting Arms.

Deuteronomy 33:27
“…The eternal God is your refuge and dwelling place,
and underneath are the everlasting arms;….”

Everlasting Arms

“God, the eternal God, is our support at all times,
especially when we are sinking into deep trouble.
There are seasons when we sink quite low....
Dear child of God,
even when you are at your lowest,
underneath are the everlasting arms.”
Charles Spurgeon

“However low the people of God
are at any time brought,
everlasting arms are underneath them
to keep the spirit
from fainting and the faith from failing,
even when they are pressed above measure....
everlasting arms with which believers
have been wonderfully sustained and
kept cheerful in the worst of times.
Divine grace is sufficient.”
Matthew Henry

Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You."

Isaiah 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break and smoking flax He will not quench."

Rest in Me and Be at Peace

~Arise woman of God, Daughter of the Most High Arise. ~Arise to your resting place next to Your King; for I AM with you always.
~Do not despair, My love; for I have not left you nor forsaken you, though for a little while you may not see Me as you have in the past. Just know that I AM here, and I AM closer than you know; closer than a brother - for I AM the Lover of your soul. My love does not wax and wane as man's does, but I AM from everlasting to everlasting. Let Me do the work in your life which now needs to be done.
~I know you are scared, but trust Me, for I AM Faithful and True. I AM The Only Wise God;
The Everlasting Father; The Prince of Peace, and I AM The Lover of your soul.
~I AM The Lily of the Valley; The Bright and Morning Star. I AM The Lion of Judah...Selah.
Be at peace, My love. Be at peace. For I AM The Prince of Peace and I come to you with healing in My wings.

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, and in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4

"But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves." Malachi 4:2

~It had been quite the year...2008. I was ready to undergo a total hip replacement in June, and all of the "trimmings" that come with it. Changes in lifestyle, physical therapy, use of devices to assist me in my daily living, being off from work for a period of time. What I was NOT prepared to undertake was a retinal detachment the end of October. The surgical placement of a gas bubble in my left eye necessitated that I keep it in place by keeping my head straight down for a month, and sleeping totally face down for 6 weeks!

~The hip surgery, I could finally accept. The suddenly of the retinal detachment left me wandering in the darkness. Had God left me? My mind said, "No"....my heart felt lost. Had I done something wrong? Had I somehow missed the proverbial boat? Alone during the day while my husband was at work, I ached.

"GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?" I was confused and hurting. I was scared of losing my eyesight. I was scared I had done something to cause God to take His hand from me, but this was not the God of love that I knew.

~About two weeks into my recovery, I had a visit from a pastor friend of ours and a couple others. They prayed for my physical healing. But God knew what I needed....reassurance that He loved me, unconditionally and that He was there for me. When my visitors left, I knew I was healed. He came as the Balm of Gilead with His healing in His wings for my broken heart. His reassurance gave me the grace to endure the rest of the journey.

Comfort, Yes, Comfort My People

Dear Reader,

This precious posting is being used by permission from my friend, Carol DeKoekkoek, Jan. 15, 2009.

~Be comforted. Crista

"Comfort, yes, comfort My people", says the Lord. (Isaiah 40:1)

What timely scripture. If you get a chance, read the entire chapter. Comfort, what kind of comfort do we seek...physical, emotional, spiritual? It matters not which one, it is the desire of our Father in heaven that when we are hurting that we find comfort from Him and in Him. He alone is our Healer, Restorer and Refuge. He is our strength and High Tower. These things are true.
So here I sit broken, knowing all these things, helpless, and hurting. What do I do with this truth? Do I press in or do I shut down? Sometimes the pressure seems all to great to bear and I want to shut down and give up, but my spirit stirs within me and I can't help but cry out, "Abba, Daddy I need You to rescue me!"
I'm reminded of what Peter said to Jesus in John 6, after many of Jesus followers left him. Jesus asked of the final 12 disciples, "Do you also want to go away?" and Peter replied, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
What wisdom Peter had. Sometimes I hurt so bad I can't take it. So I do the only thing I know to do. I run to the One who holds the words of eternal life and I cry out to Him. It doesn't always change the situation, but it helps me to be able to stand under the pressure, to find another breath for another day.
You know that's really all Jesus encourages us to deal with. He says don't worry about tomorrow, today has enough troubles of its own. That's a paraphrase of a verse, I'd look it up for you, but i'm too lazy right now. Paul exhorts us to let go of things past, pressing on toward the goal of the prize of Christ in Phil. 3:14. That only leaves today.
Lord I pray today for all of your hurting and broken people. I thank you that You do not leave us as orphans, but You give us the Comforter, Your precious Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, pour Yourself over us and fill us to overflowing that we might be ministers today of the very thing we stand in need of , Your love, Your peace, Your comfort and Your grace. I love You Lord, be glorified in me and help me to stand in the pain. Amen

Carol DeKoekkoek